Deaf UFC fighter to give motivational speech

A deaf MMA and UFC fighter will share his story and give a motivational speech at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10 in the Mitchell Auditorium.

Matt "The Hammer" Hamill will speak about his life and his journey to become a successful wrestler and mixed martial arts fighter. He'll give a motivational speech aloud and using sign language, and interpreters will be on hand to translate when needed.

Hamill won three NCAA Division III National Championships in wrestling while attending the Rochester Institute of Technology. In 1997, he won gold medals in Greco-Roman style and freestyle wrestling in the Deaflympics in Denmark. He won a silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling and a gold medal in freestyle wrestling in the 2001 Deaflympics in Rome, Italy. The 2010 movie "The Hammer" was based on Hamill's life story.

The College's ASL Deaf Culture Club is coordinating the performance. For more information, contact club member Ashley Fern at: afern@css.edu.